Albacore caught in Ensenada, Mexico
Albacore
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Albacore Description
Albacore Tuna are highly sought after here in California. They are easily identified by their elongated pectoral fins. Every summer anglers here eagerly await their arrival. Albacore are always on the move, swimming vast distances in their lifetimes. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world.
Albacore are very tasty. Albacore are the only tuna that can be marketed in the United States as “white meat tuna”. Canned tuna is usually Albacore.
Like all Tuna, Albacore put up a good fight for their size. They max out around 80lbs but a fish half that size is a good sized fish.
Albacore Tackle
Albacore can be caught on both spinning and conventional tackle. Anglers usually use heavier outfits for trolling, but for bait or lure fishing a 20lb class setup should be sufficient. Since they are caught in the middle of the open ocean they aren’t going to wrap your line up in anything (except possibly your own prop) so you don’t need heavy tackle. A good reel for these guys is the Shimano Trinidad 16N. Click here for tackle recommendations.
Albacore Techniques
Albacore are readily caught on both bait and lures. Fish are usually located by trolling, and once they are located they can sometimes be brought next to the boat by chumming small baitfish. At that point they can be targeted with baits or lures. If the trolled fish gets unhooked it usually swims away and the school follows, so it is important to get that fish in the boat.
Albacore Lures
Albacore are usually located by trolling. Popular trolling lures include cedar plugs and tuna feathers, as well as Rapala type plugs if you are trolling a little more slowly. Small daisy chains of rubber skirts can work well also. Make sure you match the size of your trolling lure to the size of the baitfish in the area. If you know there are fish around but you can’t get bit try a smaller lure.
Once you locate the fish the fish, you can sometimes catch them on soft plastic swimbaits or metal jigs such as those made by Megabait. Although I have seen them caught on these, I have never had any luck with them myself.
Home
Albacore Description
Albacore Tuna are highly sought after here in California. They are easily identified by their elongated pectoral fins. Every summer anglers here eagerly await their arrival. Albacore are always on the move, swimming vast distances in their lifetimes. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world.
Albacore are very tasty. Albacore are the only tuna that can be marketed in the United States as “white meat tuna”. Canned tuna is usually Albacore.
Like all Tuna, Albacore put up a good fight for their size. They max out around 80lbs but a fish half that size is a good sized fish.
Albacore Tackle
Albacore can be caught on both spinning and conventional tackle. Anglers usually use heavier outfits for trolling, but for bait or lure fishing a 20lb class setup should be sufficient. Since they are caught in the middle of the open ocean they aren’t going to wrap your line up in anything (except possibly your own prop) so you don’t need heavy tackle. A good reel for these guys is the Shimano Trinidad 16N. Click here for tackle recommendations.
Albacore Techniques
Albacore are readily caught on both bait and lures. Fish are usually located by trolling, and once they are located they can sometimes be brought next to the boat by chumming small baitfish. At that point they can be targeted with baits or lures. If the trolled fish gets unhooked it usually swims away and the school follows, so it is important to get that fish in the boat.
Albacore Lures
Albacore are usually located by trolling. Popular trolling lures include cedar plugs and tuna feathers, as well as Rapala type plugs if you are trolling a little more slowly. Small daisy chains of rubber skirts can work well also. Make sure you match the size of your trolling lure to the size of the baitfish in the area. If you know there are fish around but you can’t get bit try a smaller lure.
Once you locate the fish the fish, you can sometimes catch them on soft plastic swimbaits or metal jigs such as those made by Megabait. Although I have seen them caught on these, I have never had any luck with them myself.
Top to bottom: Cedar plug, rubber squid at the end of a daisy chain, Zukers tuna feather
Albacore Baits
Here in California a prime bait is a nice lively anchovy. Second choice would be a sardine if anchovies aren’t available.
Where to get the big Albacore
In years when there is a good Albacore migration and they make it all the way up to Morro Bay or even Oregon, some large ones can be caught up there. The San Diego long range sportfishing fishing fleet usually catches plenty of them even in years when they don’t make it up through California.
Other Albacore Resources
The above barely scratches the surface on how to catch Albacore. The resources below will provide a wealth of information:
Ronnie Kovach's book Saltwater Fishing in California
Point Loma Sportfishing: www.pointlomasportfishing.com
Here in California a prime bait is a nice lively anchovy. Second choice would be a sardine if anchovies aren’t available.
Where to get the big Albacore
In years when there is a good Albacore migration and they make it all the way up to Morro Bay or even Oregon, some large ones can be caught up there. The San Diego long range sportfishing fishing fleet usually catches plenty of them even in years when they don’t make it up through California.
Other Albacore Resources
The above barely scratches the surface on how to catch Albacore. The resources below will provide a wealth of information:
Ronnie Kovach's book Saltwater Fishing in California
Point Loma Sportfishing: www.pointlomasportfishing.com
Click on a pic below to enlarge
